Sammy Kitwara a Favorite in Chicago MarathonKitwara was second in Chicago last year in a personal best of 2:04:28 after finishing third in 2013 and fourth in 2012. A hamstring problem limited him to sixth in London in April, but he had no such difficulty in a convincing half marathon win in Angola last month and feels fit for Sunday’s marathon, the Chicago Tribune reports. Kitwara did not take up the sport until after high school, when he saw people running on TV and moved to Eldoret and began running. More[1]

Illness Could Keep Benoit Samuelson from Starting in ChicagoJoan Benoit Samuelson had hoped to run at least 2:51:21 in Chicago on Sunday. That would put her within 30 minutes of her winning 2:21:21 from 1985’s marathon. But she told Race Reports Weekly, “I've been dealing with a stomach virus, so it will be a game-time decision” as to whether she’ll be on the starting line. More[2]

Chris Kwiatkowski Is Ready to Shine at Army Ten MilerKwiatkowski suffered through a long litany of fractures and stress fractures while at the University of Oregon. As a result, “I was always trying to play catch up,” he told the Washington Post. Out of college, he ran 48:17 for fourth place as the top American at the 2013 Army Ten Miler. He’ll be back at the race on Sunday, and said he’s been healthy for three years. More[3]

Track Town USA Rents a Portland Warehouse to Stage MeetsThe organization that will stage U.S. and world indoor championships at the Oregon Convention Center in March will first put on meets at a city-owned warehouse, beginning in January. The track for the world indoor championships will be built in that warehouse, the Portland Tribune reports. "We can't clog up the convention center for two months," said Vin Lananna, president of Track Town USA's organizing committee. More[4]

Rock ’n’ Roll Brooklyn Half Debuts on SaturdayThe new event has a sold-out field of 17,500 entrants, a record for an inaugural half marathon in the United States. Runners from 50 states and 32 countries will begin at the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Arch at the Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park. The course proceeds amid fall foliage on Eastern Parkway and Ocean Avenue. More[5]